Human Health, Emergency Response, and First Aid
Recognize the exposure
Organophosphate and carbamate insecticides inhibit cholinesterase, producing a characteristic syndrome: salivation, lacrimation, urination, diarrhea, sweating, pinpoint pupils, vomiting, bronchial secretions, muscle twitching, weakness, and in severe cases respiratory failure. Cholinergic signs may appear within hours of exposure. Other classes produce different pictures, so always read the label's first aid and the safety data sheet rather than assuming.
Separate illness from heat
Heat stress and pesticide poisoning share symptoms - dizziness, headache, nausea, sweating, weakness. Heat illness usually improves with cooling and rest in shade; pesticide poisoning does not. When in doubt, treat as poisoning and get medical help. Do not let a worker “sleep it off.”
First aid basics
- Move the person to fresh air and remove contaminated clothing.
- Wash skin with soap and water; flush eyes with clean water for at least 15 minutes.
- For inhalation, keep the person calm and get medical attention.
- Do not induce vomiting unless the label instructs it, and never for a petroleum-based formulation.
- Call 911 for severe symptoms, and call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222 in the US) for guidance.
- Take the product label and SDS to the medical facility; antidotes such as atropine exist for some compounds but are given only by medical personnel.
Traps in questions
Assuming a person who feels fine is safe (delayed effects occur), giving food or drink to an unconscious person, and failing to report the incident. Every exposure should be documented and reported per label and employer requirements.
Rule of thumb
If you cannot tell whether the symptoms are heat or pesticide related, treat it as pesticide poisoning, remove the person from exposure, and call for medical help.